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Its easy, especially for younger fans, to takeDungeons & Dragons popularity for granted.
After all, its the subject of a blockbuster movie,Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
But, for decades, this titan of role-playing was reduced to the plaything of, well, nerds.
Its easy to understand why its appeal was initially limited.
Its also easy to see why people absolutely loved it.
Most ofD&Ds early appearances fundamentally misunderstood what the game actually was.
This early in its tenure, there was an exclusivity toD&Dthat players relished.
It seemed that no one got the games appeal except its players.
Its not strictlyD&Dbut a combination of tabletop, LARP, and puzzle computer games.
Our players are undeniably still geeks, but their outsider status is considered less objectionable.
When the movie failed to do so, it felt like a step back for the game.
(Or maybe its just a cheeky plug for the officialBuffyRPG.)
If anyone was going to parodyMazes and Monstersand the 80s cartoon in one film, its these nerds.
Weve now crossed the threshold for intertextualD&Dportrayals.
Stranger Thingswas a boon forD&D.
